GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON PHYSICAL FITNESS VISITS COMBINED SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY CENTER
October 23, 2007
Contact:
GOVERNORS PRESS OFFICE
(850) 488-5395
ORLANDO – Governor Charlie Crist today announced the third public meeting of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Monday, October 22, and Tuesday, October 23, 2007. The meeting will take place at the Lake Nona YMCA, one of the first co-located YMCAs and elementary schools. The council will continue its discussion of active lifestyles by having nutrition experts and government officials detail additional ways communities can encourage active lifestyles among residents.
“I applaud the council’s commitment and enthusiasm in finding practical ways to encourage Floridians to adopt active lifestyles into their everyday lives,” said Governor Crist. “Florida can benefit from more groundbreaking partnerships between the public and private sectors within our communities. The NorthLake Community School is just one example of such a partnership that can serve as a model for other communities around the state.”
The third meeting of the Council will specifically focus on ways to encourage active lifestyles. Active living integrates physical activity into daily routines to meet the goal of participating in at least 30 minutes of activity each day. Individuals may achieve this goal by walking or bicycling for transportation, exercising for fitness or pleasure, using park playgrounds and walking trails and taking the stairs instead of riding the elevator.
The Lake Nona YMCA is the result of a joint-venture of several organizations: Lake Nona Property Holdings, Orlando Regional Healthcare System, Central Florida YMCA, the City of Orlando and Orange County Public Schools. This partnership has created a community hub that includes the NorthLake Park Community School, NorthLake Park Community Center and the Lake Nona YMCA. The center has received the Urban Land Institute Award of Excellence in Public/Private Partnerships. The school opened in August 1999 and educates 560 students in pre-K through fifth grades. The Lake Nona YMCA Family Center is a full-service facility that serves 1,300 members. Together, the school, park and YMCA offer shared resources to meet the needs of the community. At the conclusion of today’s meeting, council members will tour the Lake Nona YMCA Family Center and North Lake Park Community School.
Today, the council will eat lunch in the elementary school’s cafeteria. Throughout October, council members are visiting elementary and middle schools to learn first-hand about the availability of healthy lunch options and the implementation of the statewide physical education legislation.
Former Tampa Bay Lightning team captain Dave Andreychuk recently joined the council as an honorary member. He currently serves as the team’s community representative. The following individuals/agencies are also expected to be in attendance:
• Superintendent Ronald Blocker of Orange County Public Schools
• Jacquelyn Bick, Miss Central Florida US
• Bob Norberg, Director, Department of Citrus
• Rosemary Rose, vice president, Food and Beverage Merchandise Operations, Walt Disney World
• Des Cummings, President, Florida Hospital Foundation
The 21-member council was appointed by Governor Crist in May 2007 and charged with developing a state plan of action to help reduce the number of Floridians who suffer from chronic illnesses related to obesity. For more information regarding the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, please visit www.healthyfloridians.org.